Summary

Plot

Mad at Bart Rathbone for not advertising on his show, Odyssey 105's Cryin' Bryan Dern is preparing to air a show in which the questionable business practices and mistreatment of customers at the Electric Palace are brought to light. Bart is desperate to redeem his image before he loses his job. His desperation drives him to Whit's End. Whit suggests observing a reputable business in action. Eugene suggests that Bart intern at Whit's End, and Whit reluctantly agrees.

After observing Eugene in action for a few hours, it's time for Bart to get some experience of his own. Tom Riley is the first of several customers for Bart, but it soon becomes evident that Bart has much to learn about the Golden Rule.

At the end of the day of training, Bart believes he is ready and has agreed to be interviewed by Dern on the radio so he can show Odyssey how he is changing. The interview turns out to be an ambush when a surprise guest, Bart's own son Rodney comes on the show with a list of the unscrupulous things that happen behind the scenes at the Electric Palace!

Later, Bart decides to protest what he thought was going to be the show that aired his interview, but it turns out that the broadcast schedule has changed. Bart’s interview is replaced with a fundraiser for cancer patients, but Bart doesn't know this as he tells everyone not to listen to the "garbage" on the radio.

Notes

Bart's suggestion to Whit in this episode of what to say on Bryan Dern's program is an obvious spoof of the introductions to AIO episodes done by Whit ("Hi there. My name is John Avery Whittaker, but my friends call me Whit").

When discussing some of Bart's shady business practices in this episode, Whit mentions the "three-speed" fan Bart sold him in #543: “Nothing But the Half Truth” — the "speeds" of which were "off," "reverse" and a speed that was too powerful — and the transformers Whit bought for the train sets when the Palace first opened in #160: “A Rathbone of Contention”.

Whit may be referencing his experience in #494: “Box of Miracles” in this episode when he advises Bart against trying to tell his side on Dern's show. Ironically enough, Whit's interview with Dern in Box of Miracles went sour when Dern brought on surprise guest Martha Carmen, whereas Bart's was derailed when surprise guest Rodney Rathbone was brought in.

Whit's statement in this episode that he doesn't care for the way Dern "goes after" people he may be a reference to the events of #193: “A Tongue of Fire”.

At the beginning of the episode, Whit says that the cancer ward is called Cans for Cancer. On the "Bryan Dern" show at the end, Dern calls it Cans Against Cancer.

In the scene where Bart is boycotting the Bryan Dern show, a clock can be heard striking 5:00. However, in his preview for the show heard earlier in the episode, Bryan Dern says his show would start at 7:00.

John Whittaker: Bart, I don't feel that I could defend you in good conscience. I mean, I don't really care for the way Bryan Dern goes after people, but...well, I can't say he was altogether wrong.Bart Rathbone: Wha? Whattaya talkin' about?John Whittaker: Well, you do mistreat your customers, Bart, and you often have dishonest business practices.Bart Rathbone: Aww, come on...now, you still can't be mad at me about that computer keyboard I sold ya!John Whittaker: ...It had no "W".Bart Rathbone: So you just use the "M" and turn the paper upside down! What's the big deal?